Rutgers board members mum after four-hour, closed-door meeting

Amid investigations and controversy over the Rutgers University athletic department, the school's governing board met behind closed doors for nearly four hours today, but took no action and offered no comment.

University President Richard L. McCormick said the meeting was confidential and would remain so.

"It's a tradition at Rutgers and I'm going to adhere to it now, that we don't discuss the contents of closed session meetings," he said as he left the university's administration offices in New Brunswick shortly after 8 p.m.

An agenda for the meeting gave only a broad overview of the issues being taken up by the board, including "sports marketing agreements, stadium construction, naming rights, contract negotiations, employment of personnel, and pending litigation."

The university is facing a possible funding crisis on the $102 million expansion of its football stadium. The first phase was completed in time for the first game of the Scarlet Knights more than a week ago. However, bids for the second phase of the project have come in at least $18 million higher than anticipated and a $30 million private fundraising that would bridge a financing gap has faltered.

The board has been considering options that would allow it to bond the entire cost of the project, but that would involve higher ticket prices and other increased costs for fans. An agreement for naming rights to the stadium could cut that overall borrowing.

University officials cited attorney-client privilege and contract negotiations as justification under the state's Sunshine Law for excluding the public.